Tension device



W B. HARSEL AND R.-B. DAY.

TENSION DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED my. ms.

1,419,049, PatentedJune 6, 1922.;

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

w .1 I n I 3mm WBHARSEL 7 H. DA

" STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. HARSEL AND RALPH 13. DAY, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, OF ,AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF Application filed July 17,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, \VILLIAM B. HAnsEL and RALPH B. DAY, both citizens of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in- Tension Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tension and stretching structures, and is. especially applicable to tire-building machines in which a ply or strip of fabric is stretched along its medial portion as it passes from a stock-roll onto a juxtaposed revolving core.

In certain situations-as in these tirebuilding machines-it is desirable (in order to effect the required elongation or stretching of the 'fabric or element) to create a frictional resistance to the passage of such fabric or element from its source of supply to changing conditions in the character of the fabric, etc., this being governed by 'aprin'iary tension-device, there being a secondary control associated therewith whereby the action of the primary device and, thus, the initial tension or friction, may be varied to correspond with fluctuationsor variations in the character of the material itself, other conditions of usage, etc.

While the structure is unrestricted in its application, yet it has been found particularly effective when used in connection with a tire-building machine for the reason that, regardless of the nature of the material itself, the rate at which it travels, etc-., the desired or required amount of elongation and stretch in the fabric may be produced andmaintained constant.

Other objects and advantages will in part be apparent and in part be. more fully brought out in the following; description.

In the accompanying rawings, which illustrateoneembodiment of the invention and which obviously is susceptible of a wide range of modification- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating our improved structure associated with fabric passing from a stock-rack to a Specification of Letters Patent.

TENSION DEVICE.

Patented June 6,1922. 1918. Serial n6. 245,397.

carcass-forming core of a tire-building machine;

Fig. 2 is a view in top plan, partly in section of a portion of the tension-device;

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section on the line 33, Fig. l; and Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail view in perspective of a portion thereof; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective of still another portion of the structure.

In the accompanying drawings, the reference-numeral 1 designates a stock-rack, generally, which is here shown as including a base 2 and uprights 3. On the latter are pairs of brackets 4, each sustaining a stockroll 5 forsupplying tire-fabric 6 to a mandrel or carcass-forming core 7 juxtaposed to the stock-rack and adapted to be operated on by any appropriate type of stitcher mechanism (not shown). The core is supported ona pedestal 8 for rotative movement, first to draw the fabric 6 from the stock-roll 5 through a fabric-stretching structure designated, generally, by the reference-character 9; and, secondly, to permit ope-ration thereon of the stitcher mechanism.

In order that the fabric maybe caused to conform' more readily and exactly to the curvature of the periphery of the core, it is necessary to elongate or'stretch it longitudinally along its medial portion: and it is essential that this stretch shall be uniform throughout the different sections of the fabric. This stretching is accomplished by setting up a resistance in the fabric as it passes from the stock-r011 to the core.

In our preferred type of machine, this result is achieved with certainty and regularity by means of the fabric-stretching structure 9:. This includes a tcnsioning-roll 1O sustained by an axle 11 journaled in bearings adjacent the extremities of a pair of outstanding brackets 12. The tensioningroll may be of any required form; but, in

the presentinstance, it is shown as crowned and as comprising a double cone-shell fastened to the axle 11. One end of this axle carries a thrust collar 13 pinned thereto. This'serves to hold the axle in operative position in the brackets 12.

Means are provided for effecting a frictional resistance to the rotation of the axle and, in consequence, to the rotative movement of'the tensioning-roll 10. Preferably and as shown, these means include a selfacting device which will now be described.

The end of the axle 11 opposite the collar 13 carries a grooved pulle which is fastened to the ax e by a key 15. Interposed between this pulley and the adjacent roll-supporting bracket 12 is a rockerarm 16 which is adapted to fulcrum on the axle 11. Journaled in anti-friction bearings 17 fprmed in the outstanding end of the rocker-arm and in the outstanding end of a roll-supporting arm 18 (also pivoting on the axle 11) is an idler-roll 19, preferably provided with right and left hand threads or grooves and disposed parallel to and in front of the tension-roll 10.

Disposed to the rear of the tension-roll and occupying the same relative position thereto as the idler-roll 19 is a second idlerroll 20, this being supported in bearings 21 in the parallel brackets 12.

As shown in Fig. 1, the fabric passes from the stock-roll 5 to the rear idler-roll 20;

thence up o 'er the tension-roll 10; thence down under the-idler-roll 19, and onto the core. As will now be seen, the rocker-arm 16, the idler-roll 19, and the roll-supporting arm 18 constitute an oscillatory structure or actuating means and, in this instance, we refer to it as a primary tensioning device, its action being to effect a normal tendency of the fabric to be elongated as it passes from the stock-roll, over the crowned tension-roll, and onto the core. This device supports the idler-roll 19 in a floating condition (so 'to speak) with respect to the tension-roll, the rocker-arm and roll-supporting arm 18 fulcruming on the axle of the tensioning-roll, as aforementioned. The action of this device is, however, controlled (as conditions necessitate) by a secondary tensioning or governing device which we shall now describe:

The grooved pulley or drum l tcarried upon the end of shaft 11 is frictionally engaged upon its periphery by a pair of bandelements 22 and 23. The upper extremities of these band elements terminate in a pair of bearing bosses 44 and 45 which are rotatably supported between the end of a pair of links 47 loosely mounted upon a bracket 48, which may be formed as an integral part of the bracket 12, or independently constructed and secured thereto.

The lower extremity of the band-element 23 terminates in an enlarged boss"25 which has a hollowed-out central portion to provide a U-shaped cavity 26 (Fig. 5), this being closed at one end and being provided with a central aperture 27. The lower end of the band-element 22 also terminates in an enlarged boss 28 of form similar to the boss 25, and is provided with side apertures (not shown) to receive a stub-axle 29 (Fig. 1) on which is mounted an eccentric roller or drum 14 The opposite end of the member 31 is threaded and carries a milled adjusting nut 33 adapted to engage the rear wall of the boss 25. The member 31 extends through the aperture 27 in the boss 25 and through a similar aperture (not shown) in the boss 28. Encircling the member 31 and engaging the end walls of the bosses 25 an 28 is an expansion spring 3 which. operates to hold the band members 22 and 23 normally out of frictional contact with the pulley; the adjusting nut 33 being adapted to increase spring 34.

A portion of the rocker-arm 16 tothe rear of the tension-roll is of relatively reduced dimensions and is provided with an apertured extremity 35. Connected thereto is a turn-buckle link 36 which also is pivotally attached to a short arm 37 extending rearwardly from the roller 30 (Figs. 1 and 4).

Fast on the end of the shaft 11.is a ratchetwheel 38 with which a pawl 39 co-acts, the latter being held in-proper relation to the ratchet by a spring 40. This device enables the operator easily to rotate the tensionwheel 10 in a reverse direction and permit of rewinding stock upon the stock-roll 5.

In order to provide for a minute balance of the arm 16, there is connected thereto a hooked arm 41 carrying weights 42.

Operation: The operation of our tensioning structure may briefly be described as follows: A supply of stock having been placed on the roller 5, the end of this stock is carried up over an idler 43 and then between the idler-roll 20 and the tensioning roll10,

-it being brought up over thelatter. and thence down under the idler-roll 19, and

thence onto the core 7 The core then being rotated by any suitable driving mechanism effects a drawing action on the fabric and thereby tends to create a tension on the fabric between the core and the crowned tension-roll 10. This tends to raise the roll 19, and thereby the rocker-arm 16 is tilted upwardly on the axis 11 of the tensioningrolls. The result of this is to swing the rear extremity 35 of the arm 16 downwardly, and this motion is transmitted through the connecting link-36 to the arm 37 on the eccentric roll 30, with a resultant horizontal movement of the shaft 29 in a direction which relieves the pressure on the spring 34. The spring is thus permitted to expand and. as a consequence, the degree of frictional contact of the brake members 22 and 23 on the pulley is reduced in direct proportion to the degree in which the resistance of the fabric to removal from the stock-roll is increased. When the eccentr 1c roll 30 is in -its lowest position, the

brake members 22 and 23 areheld free of the pulley 14; but if the idler-roll 19 is permitted to swing-downwardly, it will transmit motion to the arm 16,,thence to the connecting link 36, thence to the arm 37, and

' thence to the eccentric roll 30 which will rotate and effect movement of the member 31 and thereby actuate the brake members 22-.and 23 to increase their frictional resistance upon the pulley l4.

If it be desired to increase or decrease the amount of tension, and, thus, predeterminately set theparts for producing an initial tension, the operator adjusts the nut 33 to v increase or decrease the normal distance between the bosses 25 and 28 on the brake members. I

. From the foregoing, it will be seen that we have provided a tensioning device that will accurately and positively place upon.

the fabric a predetermined amount of tension. Should a roll of sticky or tacky tireprovide the required tension throughthe medium of the tension-roll 10, as will be understood.

It is to be understood that while we have illustrated and described our present structure in specific connection with a tire-making machine, nevertheless it is intended for and is capable of use in connection with many other types of machines and operations of different types. The tension-device may be used in connection with any machine or the practice of any method in the manufacture of articles of any nature wherein it isldesired to create a regulated and constant resistance to the feeding or pulling or movement of a fabric sheet or equivalent nature.

\Vhat we claim is:

1. A mechanism for tensioning fabric or the like including a support, a roll journaled therein and adapted for engagement by a strip of fabric or the like passing over said roll, an actuating member mounted for movement about said roll journal, an idler carried-by, said actuating member in the slack of the strip of fabric or the like, a friction element adjacent one end of the roll, and engageable with the same, means for normally disengaging said friction element said roll, an actuating member mounted to oscillate about the roll journal, an idler carried by said actuating member in the slack of the fabric strip, a friction element adjacent one end of the roll and engageable with the same, adjustable means for norma ly disengaging said friction element from said roll, and adjustable means dependent on the degree of slack in the fabric for engaging said friction element with said roll.

3. A mechanism for tensioning fabric or the like including a support, a tensioning roll journaled therein and adapted for engagement by a strip of fabric passing over said roll, an actuating member mounted to oscillate about the roll journal, an idler carried by said actuating member in the slack of the fabric strip, a friction m ember clutched upon the tensioning roll, a member pivoted upon the support for engagement with said friction member, resilient means for normally disengaging said pivoted member from said friction member, adjustable means dependent on the degree of slack in the fabric for engaging said pivoted member with said friction member, and a counterbalancing means for said actuating member.

4. A brake for fabric tensioning mechanisms including a support and a tensioning roll journaled therein, comprising an oscillating member mounted upon. the roll journal and movable about said journal, a friction element clutched upon thetensioning roll, a braking element mounted for engagement with said friction element, means for normally disengaging the braking element from the friction element, and means for engaging said elements whereby said tension roll is retarded or released upon movement of the oscillating member.

5. A brake for fabric tensioning mechanisms including a support and a tensioning roll journaled therein, comprising an oscillating member mounted upon the rolljournal and movable about said journal, a friction element clutched upon the tensioning roll, a pivotally mounted braking element for engagement with said friction element,

adjustable resilient means for normally disengaging said braking element from said frictlon element, and an eccentric element adapted'to be operated by movementof the oscillatin member to engage and release said bra ing member from said friction member.

6. A brake for fabric tensioning mecha-' nism including a support and a tensioning &

roll, comprising an oscillating member.

mounted upon the roll journal and movable about said journal, a friction drum clutched upon the tensioning roll, a braking element pivotally mounted to encompass said friction drum and to engage the same, adjustable resilient means for normally disengaging said braking element from said friction drum, an eccentric element adapted to be operated by movement of the oscillating member to engage and release the braking element from the drum, and adjustable means for connecting the eccentric element with said oscillating member.

7. In a device of the character described,

a support, a tensioning roll, on which a moviiig fabric strip is adapted to pass, said roll being journaled in said support, braking mechanism for said tensioning roll, means for normally rendering said braking mechanism inoperative and, means dependent on the degree of tension of said fabric strip 

